How a Family Group Tour to Morocco Transformed My Travel Experience with Kids

I’ve always enjoyed traveling on my own, organizing trips to more than 90 countries across five continents. Control was everything for me; I liked making all the decisions and being flexible with my plans. Group tours? Not my thing. I thought they were only for those who struggled with planning or wanted an easy way out.

Then, everything changed when I found myself on a group tour in Morocco with my kids. It wasn’t planned, but life threw a curveball. I had to cancel a dream trip to Egypt and Jordan because of a regional conflict. To salvage our holiday plans, I switched to a family group tour in Morocco.

At first, I was anxious. I wasn’t sure how I would manage giving up control or how my children would adjust to being with strangers for over a week. But from the moment we landed in Marrakech and started our journey, I found myself pleasantly surprised.

We began in Marrakech, and soon after, we hopped on a train to Casablanca to start the tour. It was a relief to see that other families were there, including kids close in age to mine. It turned out to be a fantastic experience. We enjoyed a magical night of glamping in the Sahara and hiked through the stunning Torda Gorge. Best of all, I didn’t have to plan this! I found myself chatting with other adults and appreciated having built-in friends for both me and my kids. Having someone else to play with was a welcome break for my children, especially when they tend to get on each other’s nerves during family trips.

Of course, it wasn’t perfect. Some hotels were a bit far from the action for my liking, and a few times, I found myself waiting for others when I wanted to explore. Still, for a busy parent, these small trade-offs felt minor. I realized that group tours could actually be pretty enjoyable and even enriching.

Encouraged by this experience, I didn’t hesitate to book another group tour the following year—this time to India. I had long wanted to explore this vibrant country but always found it a bit intimidating. Traveling with a guided group seemed like the perfect way to dive into its culture without the stress of handling it all myself.

This time, I chose Intrepid Travel again, particularly their family tours that meant I’d be traveling with other families. I loved that they included activities specifically for kids, like a Bollywood dance class and a block-printing session in Jaipur. These experiences felt more tailored for us than typical adult-oriented tours.

In India, I was eager to make this trip even better than the last. I did more research about our destinations and even stepped away from the group to visit places that piqued my interest. One highlight was the Rat Temple, an intriguing site adorned with countless well-cared-for rats, deeply woven into the local culture. Another memorable moment occurred when I was welcomed to a Hindu ceremony, where I was adorned with a bindi, symbolizing a spiritual awakening.

Thanks to the trust built among the parents on the trip, we took turns watching each other’s kids, which allowed me to experience unique cultural moments that would have been missed otherwise. I also suggested restaurants for everyone to try, which added another layer of enjoyment to our shared adventure.

Overall, both group tours have transformed my view on traveling with others. I’ve gained friends and made unforgettable memories, and I’m already excitedly planning my next group journey.

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