Fes Tours:
the Medina on Our Routes

Day 1: Marrakech, Beni Mellal, Ifrane, Azrou and Fes

An early start, from your hotel or riad on the private option or from the meeting point for the shared group. The road crosses the landscapes of central Morocco: traditional villages, fertile plains, then the ridges of the Middle Atlas. The first major stop is Beni Mellal, followed by Ifrane, often called Morocco's little Switzerland for its mountain architecture and spotless streets. The road continues to the cedar forests of Azrou, where Barbary macaques live free. After lunch, the mountain landscapes lead on to Fes. Free time on arrival for a first look at the city, then check-in at the hotel or riad.

Day 2: Fes el-Bali with a licensed guide

After breakfast, a licensed local guide takes you into the Fes medina, a World Heritage site. The route passes the gates of the royal palace, the Chouara tanneries and their dyeing pits, the madrasas and historical monuments, the artisan and pottery workshops, and finally the souks and centuries-old markets. It is an immersion in craft and daily life as much as a tour of monuments.

Day 1: Fes over the Middle Atlas to the Merzouga dunes

An early departure from Fes, from your accommodation on the private option. Climbing into the Middle Atlas, you pass Ifrane, often called Morocco's Switzerland, and Azrou, where Barbary macaques live in the cedar forests. The road then descends south through valleys, gorges and Berber villages, with viewpoint stops and lunch at a local restaurant. By late afternoon sand has replaced the mountains: the camel caravan sets off from Merzouga into Erg Chebbi for sunset, then camp, with dinner, music and a starlit night.

Day 3: Sunrise over the erg, Rissani, then transfer to Fes

Wake before dawn for the sunrise over the dunes, followed by a Berber breakfast outside the camp. Camel ride back to the centre of Merzouga, then the road to Rissani, where the transfer to Fes begins. This final stage is a road journey of about seven to eight hours, in a vehicle separate from the tour's own: it follows the Ziz valley and crosses the Middle Atlas via Midelt and Ifrane, but includes no guided stops. Arrival in Fes at the end of the day, with drop-off at your accommodation on the private option.

Day 2: Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes then Fes

The densest day of the circuit, with three imperial cities. In the morning, a panoramic tour of Casablanca: the Boulevard de la Corniche and the Hassan II Mosque, whose interior visit remains optional. Then the road to Rabat, the kingdom's capital, for the royal palace of Dar el-Makhzen, the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Mohammed V mausoleum and the Hassan Tower. Then Meknes, with its ramparts, the Bab el-Mansour gate, the Agdal basin and the mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. Arrival in Fes in the evening, dinner and overnight there.

Day 3: Fes, World Heritage

A full day given to Fes, with a local guide: the medina of Fes el-Bali, a World Heritage site, the al-Qarawiyyin university and the historic madrasas, the Chouara tanneries and their traditional dyeing pits, and finally the artisan workshops working in wood, pottery and textiles. Back to the hotel for dinner and the night.

Day 4: Fes, Ifrane, Middle Atlas and back to Marrakech

After breakfast, departure for Ifrane, nicknamed Morocco's little Switzerland for its mountain architecture and its sometimes snow-covered landscapes. The road then crosses the rural villages of the Middle Atlas, including Khenifra, with a lunch stop along the way, at your own cost. The descent continues through Beni Mellal to Marrakech, where the tour ends.

Day 5: Sunrise at Merzouga, Ziz valley, Middle Atlas and Fes

From here the circuit turns north. You rise before dawn to watch the sun come up over the dunes, with breakfast at the camp. The road runs up the Ziz valley, through some of the south's most striking palm groves, and on through the Middle Atlas cedar forests. Stops in Berber towns such as Midelt or Azrou come before you reach Fes as the day ends; dinner and breakfast are at the hotel.

Day 6: Fes, a full guided day

Day 6, the second guided city day, is spent wholly in Fes, the spiritual capital of the country, with a licensed guide. In Fes el-Bali, the World Heritage medieval medina, your route takes in the al-Qarawiyyin mosque and university and the Bou Inania madrasa, looks down on the Chouara tanneries from the terraces and stops at the Nejjarine fountain and its woodwork museum. Crafts and history matter more here than monuments.

Day 7: Fes, Meknes, Moulay Idriss, Rabat and Casablanca

The loop now swings west, on one of the circuit's long driving days. Crossing Middle Atlas countryside, you reach Meknes for a panoramic tour of the imperial city: Bab el-Mansour, the tomb of Moulay Ismail and the Agdal basin. After passing through the holy village of Moulay Idriss, you go on to Rabat for the Hassan Tower, the mausoleum of Mohammed V and the Kasbah of the Udayas. Evening brings you to Casablanca for dinner and the night.

Day 6: Merzouga to Fes through the Ziz valley

Day 6 turns the loop north. Up before dawn for sunrise over Erg Chebbi, breakfast at camp, then the camels carry you back to the village. The long drive to Fes is broken by several stops: the vast palm grove of the Ziz valley, Midelt, where lunch is an option, the Middle Atlas cedar forests, and Ifrane, whose architecture and mountain air earned it the name of Morocco's little Switzerland. Fes comes into view as the afternoon ends, in time for dinner and the night.

Day 7: Fes, a full guided day

Day 7, the second guided day, lasts the full day. With a licensed guide you enter Fes el-Bali, the World Heritage medina of Morocco's spiritual capital, see the al-Qarawiyyin mosque-university, stop at the Bou Inania madrasa (entry not included) and cross the artisan quarters where leather, copper and zellige are worked. The hotel is reached in the afternoon, then dinner and a second night in Fes.

Day 8: Fes to Chefchaouen through the Rif

Day 8 heads north from Fes into the Rif mountains, past countryside and villages, to Chefchaouen, the blue city, known for its calm and for lanes that photograph well. No visits are scheduled for the afternoon: walk the painted alleys, see the Kasbah museum, climb to the Spanish Mosque at sunset, or look round the craft workshops. Dinner and a night in Chefchaouen.

Day 5: Merzouga to Fes through the Ziz valley

The alarm goes before dawn for sunrise over the dunes, one of the best moments of the ten days. After breakfast you return to the village by camel or 4x4, and the loop turns north for the long run to Fes, broken up by stops: the palm-lined Ziz valley, Midelt for lunch, the Middle Atlas with its cedar forests and mountain lakes, and Ifrane, known as Morocco's little Switzerland. You pull into Fes late in the afternoon for dinner and the first of two nights.

Day 6: Fes, a full day with a licensed guide

Day 6 belongs to Fes, a city founded in the 9th century. A licensed guide leads you through Fes el-Bali, a UNESCO-listed medina, to the al-Qarawiyyin mosque-university; the Marinid-era Bou Inania madrasa; the tanneries of Chouara, watched from the terraces above them; and the artisan quarters working metal, wood, pottery and textiles. You return to the hotel during the afternoon, then dinner and a second night in Fes before the loop heads for the Rif.

Day 7: Fes, Meknes, Volubilis and Chefchaouen

Day 7 runs from Fes into the Rif, with two stops. In the imperial city of Meknes you follow the ramparts past the Bab el-Mansour gate; at Volubilis you pause at the Roman ruins, on the World Heritage list. Then come the mountains and Chefchaouen, the blue pearl: Andalusian architecture and painted lanes to explore, with dinner and the night in town.

Day 7: Merzouga to Fes through the Ziz valley

Day 7 turns the loop north. You rise before dawn to watch the sun come up over the Sahara, and breakfast is taken in the desert before the long drive to Fes. The road follows the palm groves of the Ziz valley, passes through Midelt and crosses the Middle Atlas cedar forests; around Azrou, Barbary macaques are often seen in the trees. You reach Fes in the evening.

Day 8: Fes, a full guided day

The second guided city day, this time with a licensed guide in Fes el-Bali, a World Heritage medina. Stops include the al-Qarawiyyin mosque-university; the Bou Inania madrasa, a Marinid building whose entry fee is not included; the dyeing pits of the Chouara tanneries; pottery and zellige workshops; and, to finish, the Andalusian and Jewish quarters.

Day 9: Fes, Meknes, Volubilis and Chefchaouen

Leaving Fes on Day 9, the road passes Meknes, an imperial city, along its ramparts and the Bab el-Mansour gate, then stops at Volubilis, whose Roman ruins are a World Heritage site. From there it climbs into the Rif to Chefchaouen, the blue pearl, where you explore its painted lanes and Andalusian architecture on foot. Dinner and the next morning's breakfast are at the hotel.

Day 5: Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Meknes and Fes

Day 5 leaves the Rif for the centre of the country. First comes Volubilis, whose Roman ruins are listed as World Heritage, then Meknes, the imperial city of the Bab el-Mansour gate and Moulay Ismail's mausoleum. The day finishes in Fes, the spiritual and cultural capital, which you explore with a guide tomorrow. You dine and stay the night there.

Day 6: Fes, a full guided day

Day 6 goes entirely to the Fes medina, a UNESCO site, with a licensed guide: Fes el-Bali and its al-Qarawiyyin university, the madrasa of Bou Inania, the tanneries of Chouara and the craftsmen's quarters. Back at the hotel during the afternoon; dinner and a second night in Fes.

Day 7: Fes, Ifrane, Middle Atlas and Merzouga

From Fes the circuit swings south: a long drive, broken by several stops. First Ifrane, nicknamed the little Switzerland of Morocco, then the Middle Atlas cedar forests and their scenery, and later wide views over the Ziz valley. The drive ends at Merzouga, on the Sahara's edge, for dinner and a night in a desert camp.