Morocco with kids: Camel riding with our toddler.

From welcoming locals to traveling comfortably

Morocco, is it toddler-friendly?

Yes, Moroccan people absolutely love children. During our road trip through the middle and southern part of Morocco, our little girl was about one and a half years old. And honestly? I would do it again in a heartbeat. Moroccan people absolutely love children. Everywhere we went, we were welcomed with open arms. Hosts, restaurant staff, guides, and even strangers on the street were incredibly kind and helpful. Especially a blond-haired toddler seemed to draw a lot of smiles, waves, and enthusiastic greetings.

That said, traveling with a toddler always requires a bit of preparation. Having the right supplies with you and planning activities carefully will make the whole experience much smoother.

Riding camels in the Sahara with a toddler

When traveling to Morocco, visiting the desert is almost a must. And of course, the most authentic way to explore it is by camel. Before our trip we researched the different options carefully and decided to book a camel trek with an overnight stay in the desert. We opted for the luxury camp where the tents were a bit more comfortable and had a private bathroom.

The camel ride towards the camp started in the early evening, which was perfect. This meant we didn’t have to sit on a camel in the scorching midday heat. The temperature was ideal: warm but comfortable. Each of us had our own camel, and our daughter simply sat in front of us. The only moment you need to pay attention is when the camel stands up. But once it’s upright, the ride is actually very pleasant. It’s not bumpy or uncomfortable—more of a slow swaying motion.

Our daughter absolutely loved it.

And the reactions from the other travelers were priceless. Everyone was thrilled to see a toddler riding a camel. If we had received a coin for every comment, the trip probably would have paid for itself. After about one hour of riding through the dunes, we stopped to watch the sunset.

The world’s biggest sandbox

Sunset in the Sahara

The sunset stop turned out to be the perfect moment for our toddler. She had a small snack — a cracker and some water — and suddenly found herself in what must have felt like the biggest sandbox in the world.

We first walked around to take a closer look at the camels. What funny animals they are! But since the stop would last quite a while, we decided to walk a little further away from the crowd to enjoy the evening at our own pace.

And that’s when the real fun began. We played in the sand, dug our feet into the dunes, and ran up and down the hills like crazy. Our daughter was having the time of her life. And meanwhile, the sky slowly turned golden. The sunset over the Sahara was absolutely stunning.

Sleeping in a desert camp with a toddler

Once the sun had set, we climbed back onto our camels for the final stretch to the desert camps. The group split into two, depending on which camp you had booked. We stayed in the luxury camp, which felt like the best option when traveling with a toddler.

We were welcomed with a typical Moroccan mint tea before being shown to our tent. The tent was spacious enough to place our travel cot, and having our own bathroom was definitely a plus. Before leaving with the camels earlier that evening, we were given the option to leave a small suitcase with a pickup truck that transported luggage to the camp.

What’s in our suitcase?

• Toiletries
• Enough diapers (off course)
• Milk and a bottle warmer
• A warm sleeping bag for our daughter
• Our travel cot

If your toddler is used to sleeping between you, that would work perfectly as well because the beds in the luxury tents were actually quite big and comfortable. We also made sure to bring a small back-pack to go on the camel ride with the basics: some snacks, water, sunscreen, warm clothes…

After settling in, we were invited to the central area of the camp where local music was played and drinks were served. Even though it was already quite late, our toddler was completely fascinated by everything happening around her. The camp had rocking chairs, sandy paths, and plenty of space to explore. Sleeping in the desert? She thought it was amazing. Around 10 PM, we enjoyed a delicious Moroccan dinner before heading to bed. Because the next morning, was another early start.

From a short night to a magical morning

The next morning we had two options:

• return by car after (late) breakfast
• or wake up early and ride the camels back to watch the sunrise

Being the adventurers we are, we obviously chose the camels. At 5 AM, still in complete darkness, we climbed back onto the camels and rode into the dunes again, guided only by the moon and the stars. Pro tip: bring warm clothes. Even though the desert stays pretty warm in the evening, the early mornings are surprisingly cold. We packed warm pants and a fleece sweater for our little girl.

After a short ride, we stopped at a beautiful spot to watch the sunrise. Our guides were incredibly kind during the trip. At one point, our daughter was even allowed to sit on the camel all by herself while it was resting on the ground. They showed her tiny desert discoveries, like little insect footprints in the sand and small figurines they had made themselves.

Once the sun appeared, the desert warmed up quickly. We took off our jackets, put on some sunscreen, and began the final ride back. Around 8 AM, we arrived back at the starting point.

Another adventure completed—and a beautiful day ahead of us.

And honestly? Traveling through Morocco with a toddler might seem adventurous, but experiences like this make it completely unforgettable.