Marrakech works well with children when each outing matches their age: camel rides from about 3 years old and a pottery class from 3, horse rides, Jeep tours and side-car tours from about 5, and quad or buggy driving from 16. Add a pool day pass in the Agafay desert, several of which have a child rate, or a day trip to the Ourika Valley, Ouzoud or Essaouira, all with a children's price. Where an activity page states no age rule, ask the local team before you book.
What can kids do in Marrakech?
Kids can ride camels and horses, shape clay, swim at a desert pool and spend a day in the mountains or by the ocean. Here are the main options, sorted by the youngest age stated on each activity page.
- From 3 years: the camel ride in the Palm Grove (from around 3) and the pottery class, both with an adult.
- From 4 years: the Laho Lodge pool day by Lake Lalla Takerkoust.
- From about 5 years: horse riding in the Palm Grove or in the Agafay desert, the Agafay Jeep tour and the side-car tour of the Medina.
- All ages, according to the listing: the Agafay camel ride, the hot air balloon, the sculpture garden, the guided palace tour, the Boujemaa desert camp, the Agafay pool day passes and the four day trips.
- From 12 years: the Palais Ronsard pool day, and paintball (recommended from 12).
- From 16 years: driving a quad or a buggy.
- From 18 years only: tandem paragliding.
Children pay the adult price unless the activity lists a child rate; those rates are quoted below.
From what age can children ride a camel or a horse?
Children can join the Palm Grove camel ride from around 3 years old and the horse rides from about 5, always with an adult. The Agafay camel ride is listed for all ages, with children taking part alongside an adult.
- Camel ride in the Marrakech Palm Grove: about 1 hour on the camel, 2 to 3 hours in total with the included hotel transfer, a traditional cheich to wear and mint tea after the ride. From 250 MAD per person, minimum 2 people.
- Camel ride in the Agafay desert: 45 to 60 minutes in the stony desert, 3 to 3.5 hours in total, each rider on their own camel. From 350 MAD for 2 people with 2 camels.
- Horse riding in the Palm Grove: a calm 1-hour guided ride, about 2.5 hours with transfers, mint tea at the end. From 400 MAD per person.
- Horse riding in the Agafay desert: 1 hour on desert trails with a helmet provided, and horses chosen to suit each child's age and level. From 650 MAD per person without transport, 1,000 MAD per person with transport.
No riding experience is needed. For a closer comparison, read our guide to camel rides in Marrakech, Palm Grove or Agafay.
Can children ride a quad, a buggy or a Jeep?
Children can ride a quad or a buggy as passengers, but the minimum age to drive either is 16. For younger children, the Agafay Jeep tour is the simplest choice: a driver takes the wheel and it is available from around 5 years old.
- Quad biking in the Palm Grove: 2 hours with a guide, about 3 hours in total, passengers welcome. From 350 MAD per person, or 500 MAD per quad shared by two.
- Quad biking in the Agafay desert: 2 hours on desert tracks, about 4 hours in total; younger children ride as passengers with an adult. From 700 MAD per person, or 900 MAD per quad for two.
- Buggy ride in the Palm Grove: 1 hour, with 4-seat buggies so a family can ride together, from 1,900 MAD per buggy (800 cc). 2-seat buggies start from 1,000 MAD per buggy.
- Buggy ride in the Agafay desert: 1 or 2 hours, 1 or 2 people per buggy, from 850 MAD per buggy.
- Agafay desert Jeep tour: 2 hours off-road with tea in a bivouac, 3 to 4 hours in total, from 850 MAD per Jeep for up to 4 people.
The quad and buggy pages give no minimum age for passengers, so check with the team before booking with a young child. Helmets are provided on all quad and buggy rides.
Which calm activities suit young children?
The pottery class suits the youngest: it is open from 3 years old with an adult present, and lasts two hours with a Moroccan tea. Children shape the clay by hand and take their pottery home the same day for decorative use.
- Pottery class in Marrakech: pottery, ceramic painting or tote bag embroidery, each from 300 MAD per person. Transport is not included and can be added for 300 MAD per group.
- Sculpture garden visit near Marrakech: 1.5 to 2 hours of moderate walking on garden paths, open to all ages. Guided Group Tour from 500 MAD per adult and 250 MAD per child (under 12s pay the child price, under 4s go free); the Guided Park Walk is 270 MAD per person, children at the adult price.
- Side-car tour of the Medina and Palm Grove: from about 5 years old, under 12s with an adult, from 2,200 MAD per side-car for 1 or 2 people.
- Guided tour of Bahia Palace, El Badi Palace and the Koutoubia: all ages, about 4 hours, from 250 MAD per person, children at the adult price, plus 100 MAD per person in entrance fees.
- Hot air balloon flight: all ages with an adult, from 1,100 MAD per person, children at the adult price; pickup is before sunrise.
- Boujemaa desert camp in Agafay: lunch or dinner from 250 MAD per person, children at the adult price, with musicians and a fire show in the evening. There is no pool.
Which pool day passes welcome children?
All seven Agafay pool day passes welcome children, and five of them have a reduced child rate. At Le Bedouin, Be Agafay, Agafay Valley and Seven Saints, children under 12 pay the child price and under 4s go free.
- Le Bedouin pool day pass: pool and lunch from 450 MAD per adult, 225 MAD per child; pool and dinner with live music from 550 MAD per adult, 275 MAD per child.
- Agafay Valley pool day pass: pool and lunch from 450 MAD per adult, 225 MAD per child.
- WE Agafay pool day pass: pool with lunch or dinner from 450 MAD per adult, 250 MAD per child.
- Be Agafay pool day pass: pool, jacuzzi and 2-course lunch from 500 MAD per adult, 250 MAD per child; only two of its four options include the pool.
- Seven Saints Agafay pool day: pool with lunch or dinner from 550 MAD per adult, 260 MAD per child.
The White Camel pool day pass (from 550 MAD per person) and La Bohème Agafay (from 450 MAD per person) welcome children at the adult price, and La Bohème asks for parental supervision. Laho Lodge welcomes children from 4, at 450 MAD per person. Palais Ronsard is for ages 12 and over, and Palais Rhoul is mainly an adult setting, so contact the team before booking it with children. Our guide to the best pool day passes near Marrakech compares them all.
Are day trips OK with children?
Yes, all four day trips are listed for all ages and each has a children's price, with under 12s at the child rate and under 4s free. Every trip runs in a private air-conditioned vehicle with a driver, reserved for your party (minimum 2 people), so you set the pace.
- Ourika Valley day trip: about 1 hour away, back around 17:30, from 400 MAD per adult and 200 MAD per child. The hike to the waterfalls suits people in good physical condition best.
- Essaouira day trip: about 2.5 hours each way, 3 to 4 hours of free time for the medina, harbour and beach, from 690 MAD per adult and 300 MAD per child.
- Ouzoud Waterfalls day trip: 9 to 10 hours, moderate walking and wild monkeys on the site, from 640 MAD per adult and 250 MAD per child.
- Ouarzazate and Aït Ben Haddou day trip: 10 to 12 hours with about 7 hours of driving, from 690 MAD per adult and 300 MAD per child; with young children, weigh the hours on the road first.
Lunch, drinks and a guide are not included: the driver takes you there and back. More detail in our guide to the best day trips from Marrakech.
Which packs suit families with teenagers?
The packs are built around driving a quad, so they suit teenagers aged 16 and over. Children pay the adult price on all three.
- Quad and camel ride in Agafay: 1 hour on your own quad and 1 hour on a camel, 4 to 5 hours with transport, from 500 MAD per person; under-16s must be accompanied by their parents.
- Quad and paintball (XP Boost): from 900 MAD per person, paintball recommended from 12, with 12 to 15 year olds accompanied by their parents.
- Quad, lunch and pool in Agafay: a full day with a 2-hour quad ride, lunch and pool at La Bohème Agafay, from 1,150 MAD per person, minimum 2 people.
No pack page says whether under-16s can ride the quad as passengers, so check with the team before booking for a younger teenager.
What should families know about transfers, timing and what to bring?
Most rides include a round-trip transfer from your hotel or riad, often shared, with a 100 MAD supplement if your hotel is more than 10 km from the city centre. Pool day passes and the pottery class do not include transport, but a private van can be added when you book.
- Transfers: the van to most Agafay pools is 700 MAD per vehicle for up to 7 people (800 MAD for WE Agafay and Seven Saints). The road to several camps is difficult, so private transport is recommended.
- Timing: the Palm Grove is 15 to 20 minutes from the centre, Agafay 30 to 45 minutes. Late afternoon, towards sunset, is a good time for the Agafay quad.
- What to bring: closed shoes for the horse, quad, buggy, Jeep and Agafay camel rides, sun protection in the desert, long trousers for the Agafay horse ride, a light jacket for the balloon, swimwear and sunscreen for the pool, walking shoes and money for lunch on day trips.
Booking is the same everywhere: the local team confirms your request, you pay on site on the day, and cancellation is free.
