Two days to link Marrakech and Fes, the two imperial cities every traveller wants to see, when there is no time for a full circuit. The road is not a mere transfer: it crosses central Morocco, its fertile plains, its Amazigh villages and the ridges of the Middle Atlas.
The first day leaves Marrakech early. The first major stop is Beni Mellal, at the foot of the Atlas, then Ifrane, nicknamed Morocco's little Switzerland for its pitched roofs and clean streets, at 1,650 metres. Next come the cedar forests of Azrou, where Barbary macaques can be approached in their natural habitat. After lunch, the road continues to Fes through the mountains. Free time on arrival before checking in at the hotel or riad.
The second day is given to Fes el-Bali, the country's spiritual capital and a World Heritage site. With a licensed local guide: the gates of the royal palace, the Chouara tanneries, the madrasas and historical monuments, the artisan and pottery workshops, the souks and centuries-old markets. A guide is essential here: the medina runs to thousands of lanes.
After free time for lunch, the road back crosses the Middle Atlas again, with stops along the way. Arrival in Marrakech in the evening; drop-off at your accommodation on the private option.
