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The Ultimate Guide to Exploring the Atlas Mountains with Kids

With snow-capped peaks, deep valleys and rugged mountainsides, the Atlas Mountains rise majestically from the plains of Morocco and make for a fantastic family adventure holiday destination. Tiny villages are hidden throughout, surrounded by walnut groves and offering great places to stay created by enterprising and hospitable Berber people using local materials.

Parents of young children expect to have to sacrifice long walks as part of their family holidays, but the Atlas Mountains make the perfect destination for a family holiday because as soon as their legs get tired, kids can hop onto a mule – also referred to as the 4x4 of the Atlas Mountains! Parents can enjoy stretching their legs and taking in the clear mountain air and views while the children ride mules. These picturesque mountains offer a great selection of moderate to challenging routes, all with lots of interesting sights along the way to keep the kids occupied.

Trekking in the Atlas Mountains is the perfect way to experience the authentic, rural side of vibrant Morocco. You’ll stop at Berber villages along the way and enjoy freshly prepared homemade food and friendly hospitality. Learn about their way of life, watch them prepare traditional food and enjoy a cooking lesson learning how to make Moroccan tagine! The Berber people are very polite and welcoming, making this part of the country a welcome break from Marrakech where the locals can come across as being demanding and pushy.

As well as being a great destination for young children, the Atlas Mountains are perfect for teenagers. There is nothing more bonding than completing a challenging trek together. Our Teen Hike & Bike trip offers the perfect balance of adventure and culture and teenagers will enjoy a variety of ways to get from A to B, including camel trekking and mountain biking, all with spectacular sights along the route. After an exciting day biking through the foothills with great views of the surrounding rocky peaks, enjoy getting to know the locals in typical Berber villages and camp out under the stars – in the desert with the Berber people or by the beach above the waterfalls of Sidi Mbarek (depending on the time of year).

It’s difficult to think of anywhere else within easy reach of the UK that offers such an amazing cultural contrast, and with so many affordable low cost flights to Marrakech available it makes the Atlas Mountains a perfect, great value destination for a family adventure holiday for kids of any age.

All of our trip ideas and guided group holidays to Morocco include time in the Atlas Mountains and each trip offers something different. Visit the spectacular Ait Benhaddou Kasbah made famous in the film Gladiator on our Kasbahs & Coasts trip, explore the historic port and relax on the beach at Essaouira on Atlas Mule Train, trek on camels across the desert on a Sahara Dune Adventure or explore the foothills of the mountains by bike on our Teen Hike & Bike trip.