Fes is the oldest of Morocco’s four imperial cities and, for many of our guests, the most extraordinary one to visit — a UNESCO World Heritage medina of nine miles of ramparts, founded in 789 by Moulay Idriss II, and one of the holiest cities in the Islamic world for over a thousand years. It’s a long day from Casablanca, but this is the excursion that goes deepest into Morocco’s past.
Highlights
- Private, licensed English-speaking guide for the full 13–14 hour day
- The Mellah, the Medina and Souqs of the ancient Fes el-Bali
- The Méchouar of the Royal Palace and its seven bronze gates
- The famous Chouara Tanneries
- The El Quarawiyyin Mosque and University, and the El Attarine Medersa
- A light lunch in the heart of the medina
- The 16th-century Potters’ Quarter and panoramic views from the ramparts
Your Day in Fes
It’s a long drive from Casablanca — north along the coast via Mohammedia, skirting Rabat, then east past Khemisset and the outskirts of Meknes to reach the Imperial City of Fes el-Bali. We build in comfort stops along the way.
Your tour begins at the Méchouar of the Dar el Makhzen, the Royal Palace, where we stop for around 15 minutes to admire its magnificent seven bronze gates, before continuing to the Borj Sud for a panoramic view over the medina. From there, it’s on foot into the labyrinth of Fes el-Bali — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest car-free urban area in the world. You’ll walk the colourful es-Sabbaghine, the Street of the Dyers, and the brass and copperware workshops of es-Saffarine, before reaching the El Quarawiyyin Mosque and University, one of the oldest universities on earth (we can’t enter, but you can photograph its striking doorway). The walk continues through the aromatic Souq el-Attarine, past the beautiful El Attarine Medersa, the Kissaria and Draz Quarters, and down to the famous Chouara Tanneries on the bank of the Oued Fes — ask your guide for a sprig of mint if the smell gets to you.
We stop at the delightful el-Nejjarine Square, with its plaza, fountain, old caravanserai and Museum of Woodwork, before a welcome light lunch nearby. After lunch, you’ll visit the Dar Batha Museum of Moroccan Art before rejoining your vehicle at the Bab Boujloud gate — that’s the walking done for the day.
In the afternoon, we drive to the 16th-century Potters’ Quarter near Bab Ftouh, to watch the artisans at work on their kilns and browse their clay ware, then take a final tour around the magnificent ramparts and their Babs, up to the 16th-century Saâdien watchtower at the North Borj for one last panoramic view of this city of 1001 Nights — before the long drive back to Casablanca.
This is a full day with a lot of walking — expect around 3 hours on foot, much of it over uneven ground in busy, crowded alleyways. It’s well worth the effort for a genuine taste of this legendary city.
What’s Included
- Private round-trip transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, port to port
- Guided sightseeing with entrance fees as listed
- A light lunch and bottled water en route
- An English-speaking licensed national guide
- Medical and accident insurance
Not Included
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
What to Bring
- Good trainers
- A pullover (seasonal)
- A day pack
- Hygienic wipes
- Camera, with a Ziploc bag to protect the lens
- A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
Book This Excursion
Send us your ship and port call time and we’ll confirm your private Fes excursion. Reach us on WhatsApp, give us a call, or fill out the quick form below and a local Morocco specialist will get back to you with a quote.