What to pack for Morocco: an essential guide for families

Planning a trip to Morocco with kids? Read on for our essential Morocco packing guide for families detailing what to pack for Morocco. And no, you don’t need a packhorse 😉.

Morocco is one of our favourite family travel destinations. This beautifully diverse and colourful North African country keeps drawing us back time and time again; from short week-long breaks to Essaouira and Marrakech, to a 3 week road trip, and also spending four months living in Morocco.

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As anyone who’s travelled with kids will tell you, gone are the days of just casually throwing things in a backpack and running off to the airport. Travelling with kids involves a little more thought (think – car seats, things to keep them busy, perhaps nappies and travel cots for little ones), and if you want to travel light with kids, space is tight as there’s only so much you can expect the kids to carry.

Plus, Morocco is not a typical package holiday, “fly and flop”, destination (although you can find that in Agadir, if that’s what you’re looking for). The climate and landscape is diverse (bustling medinas, snow capped mountains, towering ochre sand dunes, and coastal surf towns) and it’s also a Muslim country. So some thought needs to go into your packing to allow for the varied climate and local customs.

So to help fellow travelling families out, I’ve compiled this essential packing guide for any parent(s) planning a trip to Morocco with kids. There will no doubt be items here that you feel that you can do without, or perhaps something that you feel you desperately need. Every family is different. This Morocco packing list for families is just what has worked for our family of four.

Should I take a backpack or suitcase to Morocco?

Whether to take a rucksack or suitcase for Morocco, really comes down to whether you’re travelling around from place to place independently, on a tour with a driver, or whether you’re staying put in one same place.

Suitcases (my favourite will forever be the Thule Subterra with its compression panel) are always easier to unpack and find items. In fact, I rarely actually unpack if I take a suitcase and just leave it open to see and grab things, as and when I need.

But a suitcase can be cumbersome when trying to navigate the small cobblestone alleyways of a medina whilst holding your little ones hand with mopeds grazing past.

So if you are staying in the one spot, or have a driver who picks you up and drops you at your accommodation on a tour, then you are absolutely fine with a suitcase.

However, if you are travelling independently from place to place, then we advise taking a rucksack / backpack. Having two spare hands when travelling Morocco with kids, just makes life easier. This is also the case if you are road tripping Morocco, as if you are staying in a medina (such as with Chefchaouen or Marrakech) you’ll not be able to park your car directly outside your accommodation. Instead there are secure car parks to leave you car, and then you need to walk to your accommodation.

Nevertheless, if you are visiting Morocco with a baby or toddler, we suggest taking them in a back carrier, rather than attempting to negotiate the streets with a pram. This means that you’ll need at least one suitcase, as a child is taking up the backpack space. Just make sure it’s a suitcase that is sturdy enough to withstand the uneven paths.

What clothes to pack for Morocco

As previously mentioned, Morocco is a Muslim country with a diverse landscape. The coastline can get exceptionally windy (especially in the port town of Essaouria, coined ‘The Windy City‘), snow is common in the Atlas Mountains, and the Sahara is one of the driest and hottest landscapes on our planet. Although we’ve visited the Sahara when it’s been raining and experienced sub-zero temperatures at night!

In a nutshell, pack layers for the interchangeable climates, and wear loose-fitting, light clothes that cover your shoulders, cleavage and legs.

Kids will be fine in shorts and T-shirts. Women will feel more comfortable in long skirts, or trousers. A light shawl is a good idea. Shorts are fine to wear at your accommodation.

Whilst you will see Westerners walking around in shorts and string tops in tourist areas, we recommend being sensitive to the local culture and covering up. No one will say anything to you; it’s just being respectful.

Our clothing packing list consists of:

• trousers / shorts / skirts
• T-shirts
• underwear and socks
• a light jumper
• a light jacket – we love these TOG24 hooded down jackets that pack down really small
• swim wear
• sun hat
• snood – to be worn to cover your face in a sandstorm or to keep your head warm

You can easily pick up T-shirts and hats from the stalls in the medinas if you forget or lose anything. In fact, you may want to leave some items until you arrive (the kids would love a Maroc baseball cap or a Moroccan football shirt!)

Many of the Airbnbs have a washing machine if you are travelling long-term. Or your accommodation will be able to point you in the direction of a local laundrette.

Wetsuits for the kids

Don’t forget your swim wear in case there’s a swimming pool on your travels! Be warned though, the water is rarely heated. So we have always packed wetsuits for the kids. This means that they will play in the water longer.

These Mountain Warehouse wetsuits for kids are good.

Travel shoes for Morocco

Flip flops are fine around the pool. But you’re going to need something a little more hardwearing for walking around medinas and exploring Morocco.

We love the KEEN sandals. They come in both adult and kids sizes. Not only are the comfortable and hard-wearing, but they’re also machine washable! These are our go-to adventure footwear.

However, with these being sandals, sand can easily get inside when in the Sahara. Plus, your feet may be a little cold when trekking in the Atlas Mountains in winter (when there will be snow). You may then want to pack a light trekking trainer if you are venturing to these places.

Toiletries

We have one wash bag for the whole family where all toiletry items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, shower gel, etc). Shower blocks / bars are more space efficient than bottles.

Ladies, consider travelling with a menstrual cup, rather than relying on tampons and sanitary pads. Not only is this better for the environment, but the menstrual cup takes up a lot less space, and you don’t need to worry about trying to use tampons whilst travelling.

Medical kit

Whilst there are pharmacies in Morocco, it’s just easier to bring your typical medical treatment from home. If your kid is feeling unwell at night time, its easier to grab the Calpol in your bag, rather than hunt down a pharmacy (which is very unlikely to have Calpol, but will have some other kids’ paracetamol substitute).

The sun is strong in Morocco, so pack the high factor sun cream. Mosquitos aren’t so much of a problem in arid Morocco, but it’s always handy to have some insect repellent handy, and also Tiger Balm for any itchy bites.

Our medical kit consists of:

• sunscreen (which is used most days)
• insect repellent
• plasters
• antiseptic cream and wipes
• bandages
• medical tape and scissors
• Tiger Balm
• Ibuprofen
• Immodium
• Dioralyte

Car seats for Morocco

There seems to be mixed views on what the actual law is for car seats in Morocco, so please confirm this yourself. It’s supposedly the law that all children are required to be in a car seat, but don’t be surprised to see local kids piled into the back of the car not even wearing seatbelts, and toddlers squished between their parents on mopeds.

However, we very much recommend that you do use a car seat in Morocco if you plan to hire a car or taxi.

For a Morocco road trip, we suggest bring your car seat from home as this will be cheaper than hiring on arrival.

However, if you are independently travelling around and don’t want to carry heavy and bulky car seats, we suggest taking a travel booster seat. The Bubblebum Inflatable Booster Car Seat is perfect for travelling kids. Designed for kids age 4-12, (weighing between 15-36kg) it is super small and lightweight.

What to pack for babies and toddlers visiting Morocco

Don’t worry about packing your rucksack full of nappies, as they can be found in all towns in Morocco. Similarly, milk is readily available.

For transporting babies and toddlers around, a back carrier is much easier than a buggy / pushchair. This means they’re high up to see what’s going on. Plus, a buggy / pushchair can be difficult to navigate over the cobblestones and through the busy, tight alleyways of the medinas.

Cots are often available at your accommodation, although do check in advance.

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You may also like to read:
Should you hire a car in Morocco?
Road trip itinerary for visiting Morocco with kids
Top things to do in Morocco with kids