12 Days Tour from Fes – Morocco Tour

You will meet your private tour guide to explore the historic city of Fes, the first imperial city of Morocco. The morning begins with a visit to the entrance of Morocco’s largest royal palace. Next, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the entire medina from the southern tower of Fes. Then, you’ll visit a pottery cooperative to see the creation of traditional Moroccan tiles and mosaics.

The tour continues with a visit to the famous Fes tanneries, where you can watch the locals working with goat, camel, and cow hides. Other stops include a Koranic school, the Nejjarine fountain, the Moulay Idriss mausoleum, and the Karaouine Mosque University. 

Enjoy a traditional Moroccan lunch in the medina before continuing to explore the narrow alleys lined with merchants and craftsmen selling an array of products, from dates and spices to copper urns and musical instruments.

Today, we depart Fes and drive to the city of Meknes for a guided tour. Our first stop is the impressive 18th century Bab Mansour, the ornamental gateway to the imperial city of Meknes, built by Sultan Moulay Ismail. Next, we visit the small but striking Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. 

After lunch, we make our way through the rolling hills to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Volubilis, home to the best-preserved Roman ruins in this part of North Africa. A certified local guide will share insights about life in the Roman Empire as you explore the old bathhouses, admire the intricate mosaic floors, and marvel at the towering marble columns.

From Volubilis, we continue our drive towards the blue-hued town of Chefchaouen, where we’ll spend the night with dinner at a hotel or riad.

Today, you’ll enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of the picturesque blue city of Chefchaouen, nestled in the Rif Mountains. You’ll take a walking tour through the charming medina, where the streets, doors, and buildings are painted in brilliant shades of blue. The city has an atmosphere, especially in the main square and the cobblestone medina. 

Sit on the terrace of a café and take in the view of the grand mosque, whose octagonal minaret is inspired by the Torre de Oro in Seville. This Andalusian architecture can also be found in the Kasbah and its gardens, at the heart of the medina. The Kasbah’s walls and 11 crenelated towers, one of which was once a dungeon, now house an interesting ethnographic museum.

The colorful souks are decorated with traditionally dressed inhabitants sporting straw hats.

After lunch, you’ll depart for the northern city of Tangier. Upon arrival, you’ll marvel at the picturesque views of the Atlantic Ocean and the famous Strait of Gibraltar, a perfect photo opportunity. Wander through the narrow streets lined with colorful doors, both ancient and modern. This historically significant city has hosted a variety of famous artists, including Matisse, Camille Saint Saens, Paul Bowles, and William Burroughs, and was the birthplace of the renowned explorer Ibn Battuta.

We will travel to the administrative capital of Rabat. Our first stop will be the unfinished 12th century Hassan Mosque tower. We will also visit the Mausoleum of Mohamed V, built by King Hassan II to honor his father, the father of Moroccan independence.

Next, we’ll explore the 12th century Oudaya Kasbah, a tranquil little neighborhood with winding alleyways decorated in the same white and blue hues as the Andalusian buildings across the Strait of Gibraltar. The fortress overlooks the placid waters, with its main gate adorned by a traditional Moorish arch surrounded by geometric designs. The tower can be seen from all angles of the city, dominating the skyline.

We will depart Rabat and drive to Casablanca for a sightseeing tour. Our first stop will be the impressive Mosque of Hassan II, which opened in 1993 and is the second-largest mosque in the world after the one in Mecca.

It can accommodate 25,000 worshippers and is one of the only religious sites in Morocco open to non-Muslims, situated along the beautiful Corniche seaside. Take a moment to admire the serene views of the Atlantic Ocean.

We will then continue on a short drive through the residential areas of Casablanca to the city center, where we will visit the Mohamed V Square, the Habous quarter, and the Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral.

After lunch, we will leave Casablanca and head towards the city of Marrakech, where we will spend the night and have dinner at a riad or hotel.

You will be accompanied by a local tour guide to explore the captivating city of Marrakech. The tour will take you to the main historical monuments, including:

• The gorgeous 19th century Bahia Palace
• The 17th century Saadian Tombs, a royal necropolis
• The Koranic School of Ben Youssef
• The 12th century Koutoubia Mosque

You will also visit the famous Souks, a lively marketplace that is the perfect place to shop for gifts for your family, friends, or yourself.

After browsing the Souks, you’ll have the chance to relax in the tranquil Majorelle Gardens, a peaceful oasis in the New Town featuring exotic botanical plants from around the world.

To finish the tour, you’ll explore the main square of Jemaa El-Fna, which comes alive with storytellers, snake charmers, musicians, acrobats, and open-air food stalls. You can also enjoy a refreshing drink in one of the cafes with panoramic views across the square.

After breakfast, we depart Marrakech and venture through the magnificent Atlas Mountains. The impressive landscape in the heart of this mountain range will take your breath away as we make our way to Ouarzazate – a city that has served as the backdrop for many famous films, such as Alexander the Great, The Mummy, The Jewel of the Nile, and Kingdom of Heaven.

We’ll stop to visit the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, one of the most spectacular fortresses in southern Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

We’ll then have lunch in Ouarzazate, which is known as the “Hollywood of Africa,” before continuing our journey to the Valley of the Roses, famous for its annual festival during the rose harvest in May.

We begin our day with a drive towards the Todra Gorges, a popular destination for rock climbers to enjoy their preferred sport.

Continuing our journey, we’ll follow ancient Bedouin trading routes parallel to the Middle Atlas, passing a series of fortified villages with outstanding architecture. The route to Erfoud is considered one of the most scenic of all the southern routes. 

Erfoud is a town built by the French as a central administrative center, known for its rich black fossil marble. The stone is sculpted to bring the fossils into relief on various items, from ashtrays to washbasins.

From Erfoud, we’ll head down to the spectacular Merzouga dunes, where the sand dunes mark the start of the mighty Sahara Desert. We’ll leave our vehicle behind and take a camel ride into the desert to a Berber camp. To make this an experience of a lifetime, you may even have the opportunity to try sand dune boarding – surfing the Sahara Desert!

After dinner, we’ll gather around the fire and enjoy the desert night, perhaps accompanied by traditional Berber drums.

You will leave the desert, riding camels back to Merzouga. From there, you will venture into the Atlas Mountains, heading to a different part of Morocco. 

We’ll cross lush oases and the magnificent Ziz Gorges, carved through volcanic rock, passing through the Tizi Ntalghamt Pass to reach the town of Midelt. Along the way, we’ll see millions of palm trees and fortified villages characterized by the fascinating southern architectural style.

We’ll stop for lunch in the small, sleepy village of Midelt, nestled in the verdant beauty of the Middle Atlas Mountains. The mountainsides burst with colorful minerals in a blaze of ruby hues.

Continuing through the Middle Atlas mountain range, we’ll pass through great forests of cedar trees, terraced farms, and sienna mud-brick Berber villages. We’ll visit the charming ski resort town of Ifrane and the important handicraft center of Azrou, known for its cedar wood work.

Finally, we’ll arrive at the Imperial city of Fes, where we’ll spend the night with dinner in a riad or hotel.

Today, you’ll have a day at leisure in the world-famous city of Fes, where the beauty lies in the intricate details. 

We can arrange a traditional cooking lesson for you, or organize a trip to the Middle Atlas Mountains. Alternatively, you could indulge in a Hammam spa experience.

If you prefer, we can leave you to your own devices to explore and make your own arrangements for the day. Regardless of how you choose to spend your time, you’ll spend the night with breakfast at the riad or hotel.

We’ll transfer you to the Fes airport for your return flight, armed with a bounty of tales from your Arabic and Berber days and nights.